This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0615b.GOS
DATE: 2/1/2022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 615 Human Trafficking
SPONSOR(S): Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee, Overdorf
TIED BILLS: HB 617 IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1436
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee 14 Y, 0 N, As CS Frost Hall
2) Government Operations Subcommittee Landry Toliver
3) Judiciary Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery involving exploitation of an adult by using fraud, force, or coercion, or
exploitation of a minor or a person believed by the perpetrator to be a minor. According to the United States
Department of State, traffickers compel victims to engage in commercial sex and to work in both legal and illicit
industries, including in hospitality, traveling sales crews, agriculture, janitorial services, construction,
landscaping, restaurants, factories, care for persons with disabilities, salon services, massage parlors, retail
services, fairs and carnivals, peddling and begging, drug smuggling and distribution, religious institutions, child
care, and domestic work.
The Statewide Council on Human Trafficking (Council), within the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA) was
created in 2014 for the purpose of enhancing the development and coordination of state and local law
enforcement and social services responses to fight commercial sexual exploitation as a form of human
trafficking and to support human trafficking victims.
In 2019, the Legislature required DLA to establish a direct-support organization (DSO) to provide assistance,
funding, and support to the Council, and to assist in the fulfillment of the Council’s purposes. The DSO met for
the first time in August 2019 and incorporated as the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking. The DSO is
authorized to contract with Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security, and Tactics (FIRST) which is
statutorily required to develop training focused on detecting and reporting human trafficking and the
interventions and treatment for human trafficking survivors. The training was required to be ready for statewide
dissemination no later than October 1, 2019.
In Florida, firesafety inspectors are officially assigned the duties of conducting firesafety inspections, re-
inspections, and change-of-occupancy inspections in both new and existing buildings and facilities on a
recurring or regular basis on behalf of the state or any county, municipality, or special district with fire safety
responsibilities. Due to their unique position of consistently inspecting buildings, often on a recurrent basis,
firesafety inspectors may be able to detect and report human trafficking if properly trained in recognizing
common indicators of human trafficking.
CS/HB 615 requires the DSO, currently incorporated as the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking, to
develop training specifically for firesafety inspectors related to recognizing and reporting human trafficking and
allows such training to be eligible for the continuing education credits required under s. 633.216(4), F.S., for a
firesafety inspector to renew his or her certification. The DSO may contract with FIRST to develop such training
or develop the training on its own.
The bill also amends s. 16.618, F.S., to remove the obsolete language which requires FIRST to develop
specified training no later than October 1, 2019. Such training was developed by FIRST and is currently
available online.
The bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the DSO by requiring the development of new training
specifically for firesafety inspectors.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2022. STORAGE NAME: h0615b.GOS PAGE: 2
DATE: 2/1/2022
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
Human trafficking is modern day slavery which involves the transporting, soliciting, recruiting,
harboring, providing, enticing, maintaining, purchasing, patronizing, procuring, or obtaining another
person for the purpose of exploiting that person.
1
A person may not knowingly, or in reckless disregard
of the facts, engage in human trafficking, attempt to engage in human trafficking, or benefit financially
by receiving anything of value from participating in a venture that has subjected a person to human
trafficking for commercial sexual activity,
2
labor, or services:
By using coercion;
3
Of a child younger than 18 or an adult believed by the person to be a child younger than 18;
4
or
If for commercial sexual activity, with a mentally defective
5
or mentally incapacitated
6
person.
7
According to the United States Department of State, traffickers compel victims to engage in commercial
sex and to work in both legal and illicit industries, including in hospitality, traveling sales crews,
agriculture, janitorial services, construction, landscaping, restaurants, factories, care for persons with
disabilities, salon services, massage parlors, retail services, fairs and carnivals, peddling and begging,
drug smuggling and distribution, religious institutions, child care, and domestic work.
8
In 2020, the
National Human Trafficking Hotline received a total of 51,667 substantive phone calls, texts, webchats,
emails, or online tip reports regarding human trafficking nationwide.
9
Statewide Council on Human Trafficking
The Statewide Council on Human Trafficking (Council), within the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA), is
tasked with:
Developing recommendations for human trafficking victim programs and services, including
certification criteria for safe houses and foster homes.
Making recommendations for apprehending and prosecuting traffickers.
Annually holding a statewide policy summit.
Working with the Department of Children and Families to create and maintain an inventory of
human trafficking programs and services in each county.
Developing policy recommendations.
10
1
S. 787.06(2)(d), F.S.
2
Commercial sexual activity means any prostitution, lewdness, or assignation offense or attempt to commit such an offense, and
includes a sexually explicit performance and the production of pornography. S. 787.06(2)(b), F.S.
3
S. 787.06(3)(a)2., (b), (c)2., (d), (e)2., and (f)2., F.S. Coercion includes: using or threatening to use force against a person; restraining,
isolating, or confining a person without lawful authority and against his or her will, or threatening to do so; using lending or other credit
methods to establish a debt by a person when labor or services are pledged as a security for the debt, if the reasonably assessed value
of the labor or services is not applied toward the liquidation of the debt; destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating, withholding, or
possessing any actual or purported passport, visa, other immigration document, or government identification document; causing or
threatening to cause financial harm; enticing or luring a person by fraud or deceit; or providing a Schedule I or II controlled substance
to a person for the purpose of exploiting that person. S. 787.06(2)(a), F.S.
4
S. 787.06(3)(a)1., (c)1., (e)1., (f)1., or (g), F.S.
5
Mentally defective means a mental disease or defect which renders a person temporarily or permanently incapable of appraising the
nature of his or her conduct. S. 794.011(1)(a), F.S.
6
Mentally incapacitated means temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling a person's own conduct due to the influence of a
narcotic, anesthetic, or intoxicating substance administered without his or her consent or due to any other act committed upon that
person without his or her consent. S. 794.011(1)(b), F.S.
7
S. 787.06(3)(g), F.S.
8
U.S. Department of State, Federal Response to Human Trafficking, About Human Trafficking, https://www.state.gov/humantrafficking-
about-human-trafficking/#profile (last visited Jan. 18, 2022).
9
National Human Trafficking Hotline, 2020 National Hotline Annual Report, https://humantraffickinghotline.org/resources/2020-national-
hotline-annual-report (last visited Jan. 18, 2022).
10
S. 16.617, F.S. STORAGE NAME: h0615b.GOS PAGE: 3
DATE: 2/1/2022
Membership on the Council includes:
The Attorney General, or a designee, serving as chair.
The Secretary of Children and Families, or a designee, serving as vice chair.
The State Surgeon General, or a designee.
The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or a designee.
The executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement, or a designee.
The Secretary of Juvenile Justice, or a designee.
The Commissioner of Education, or a designee.
One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate.
One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
An elected sheriff appointed by the Attorney General.
An elected state attorney appointed by the Attorney General.
Two members appointed by the Governor, and two members appointed by the Attorney
General, who have professional experience to assist the Council in the development of care and
treatment options for human trafficking victims.
11
Direct-Support Organizations
A direct-support organization (DSO) is a non-profit organization authorized by statute to carry out
specific tasks in support of a public entity or public cause. The function and purpose of a DSO is
detailed in its enacting statute and the contract with the agency the DSO was created to support.
12
In 2014, the Legislature created s. 20.058, F.S., establishing transparency and reporting requirements
for DSOs.
13
Each DSO is required to submit, by August 1 of each year, specified information to the
agency it was created to support.
14
A contract between an agency and a DSO must be contingent upon
the DSO submitting the required information to the agency and posting the information on the agency’s
website. The contract must include a provision for ending operations and returning state-issued funds if
the authorizing statute is repealed, the contract is terminated, or the organization is dissolved. If a DSO
fails to submit the required information to the agency for two consecutive years, the agency head must
terminate its contract with the DSO.
15
By August 15 of each year, the agency must report to the
Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Office of
Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability the information submitted by each DSO, along
with the agency’s recommendation and supporting rationale to continue, terminate, or modify the
agency’s association with the DSO.
16
Any law creating or authorizing a DSO must provide that the
authorization is repealed on October 1 of the fifth year after enactment, unless reviewed and reenacted
by the Legislature.
17
DSO Supporting the Council – Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking
In 2019, the Legislature required DLA to establish a DSO to provide assistance, funding, and support to
the Council, and to assist in the fulfillment of the Council’s purposes.
18
The DSO met for the first time in
August 2019 and incorporated as the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking.
19
The DSO is
statutorily required to be:
A Florida not for profit corporation, incorporated under chapter 617, and approved by the
Secretary of State;
11
Id.
12
Ss. 14.29(9)(a), 16.616(1), and 258.015(1), F.S. See also Rules of the Florida Auditor General, Audits of Certain Nonprofit
Organizations (effective June 30, 2021), Rule 10.720(1)(b) and (d), https://flauditor.gov/pages/pdf_files/10_700.pdf (last visited Jan. 18,
2022).
13
Ch. 14-96, § 3, Laws of Fla.
14
S. 20.058(1), F.S.
15
S. 20.058(4), F.S.
16
S. 20.058(3), F.S.
17
S. 20.058(5), F.S.
18
Ch. 2019-152, Laws of Fla.; S. 16.618, F.S.
19
Office of the Attorney General, Statewide Council on Human Trafficking,
http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/main/8aea5858b1253d0d85257d34005afa72 (last visited Jan. 18, 2022). STORAGE NAME: h0615b.GOS PAGE: 4
DATE: 2/1/2022
Organized and operated exclusively to solicit funds; request and receive grants, gifts, and
bequests of money; acquire, receive, hold, invest, and administer, in its own name, property and
funds; and make expenditures in support of the purposes specified under s.16.618, F.S.; and
Certified by DLA, after review, to be operating in a manner consistent with the purposes of the
DSO and in the best interests of the state.
20
The DSO’s board of directors must be thirteen members, including:
Two members appointed by the executive director of the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement, both of whom must have experience and knowledge in the area of human
trafficking.
Three members appointed by the Attorney General:
o One of whom must be a human trafficking survivor.
o One of whom must be a mental health expert.
Four members appointed by the President of the Senate.
Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
21
The DSO is authorized to contract with Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security, and Tactics
(FIRST) to develop required training. The contract with FIRST must provide that the DSO may
terminate the contract if FIRST fails to meet its obligations under s. 16.618(4), F.S. In addition, if FIRST
ceases to exist, or if the contract between the DSO and FIRST is terminated, DLA must contract with
another organization to develop the required training and information.
22
FIRST, which is managed by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, is designed to train public safety
leaders.
23
Section 16.618(4), F.S., requires FIRST to develop training focused on detecting human
trafficking, best practices for reporting human trafficking, and the interventions and treatment for human
trafficking survivors. In developing the training, FIRST must consult with law enforcement agencies,
human trafficking survivors, industry representatives, tourism representatives, and other interested
parties and conduct research to determine the reduction in recidivism attributable to the education of
the harms of human trafficking for first-time offenders.
24
The training was required to be ready for
statewide dissemination no later than October 1, 2019.
25
The training was developed, and can currently
be accessed online.
26
Firesafety Inspectors
In Florida, a firesafety inspector is a person who holds a current and valid Fire Safety Inspector
Certificate of Compliance issued by the Division of State Fire Marshal within the Department of
Financial Services (DFS) under s. 633.216, F.S., and who is officially assigned the duties of conducting
firesafety inspections of buildings and facilities on a recurring or regular basis on behalf of the state or
any county, municipality, or special district with fire safety responsibilities.
27
Subject to a person meeting minimum qualifications, the Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of
Firefighter Standards and Training issues certifications for Firesafety Inspector I and Firesafety
Inspector II.
28
A Firesafety Inspector Certificate of Compliance is valid for four years from the date of its
issuance, and certification renewal is subject to completing an application for renewal and meeting the
requirements for renewal as established or adopted by DFS rule or under ch. 633, F.S., which must
20
S. 16.618(1), F.S.
21
S. 16.618(3), F.S.
22
S. 16.618(4)(a), F.S.
23
F1RST, Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security, & Tactics, https://www.floridafirsttraining.org/#/home (last visited Jan. 18,
2022).
24
S. 16.618(4)(b), F.S.
25
16.618(4)(b), F.S.
26
Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking, https://fateht.vidcert.com/register (last visited Jan. 18, 2022).
27
S. 633.102(12), F.S.
28
See s. 633.216(2), F.S.; Bureau of Fire Standards and Training, Division of State Fire Marshal, Firesafety Inspector I Certification
(Jun. 8, 2021), https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/sfm/bfst/Documents/FiresafetyInspectorI.pdf (last visited Jan. 18, 2022); and
Bureau of Fire Standards and Training, Division of State Fire Marshal, Firesafety Inspector II Certification (Sept. 26, 2012),
https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/sfm/bfst/Documents/FiresafetyInspectorII.pdf (last visited on Jan. 18, 2022). STORAGE NAME: h0615b.GOS PAGE: 5
DATE: 2/1/2022
include completing at least 54 hours of continuing education during the preceding four year period or
successfully passing an examination established by DFS.
29
Firesafety inspectors are typically responsible for inspections, re-inspections, and change-of-occupancy
inspections in both new building construction and existing building construction for a variety of buildings
and structures. Other duties may include, but are not limited to, ensuring fire safety equipment is
installed and maintained properly and that firefighting, fire protection, and all other fire safety
requirements are fulfilled in accordance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code, Florida Administrative
Codes, county ordinances, and other adopted standards.
30
Due to their unique position of regularly
inspecting buildings, firesafety inspectors may be able to detect and report human trafficking if properly
trained in recognizing common indicators of human trafficking.
Effect of Proposed Changes
CS/HB 615 requires the DSO, currently incorporated as the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking,
to develop training specifically for firesafety inspectors related to recognizing and reporting human
trafficking, and allows for such training to be eligible for the continuing education credits required under
s. 633.216(4), F.S., for a firesafety inspector to renew his or her certification.
The bill also amends s. 16.618, F.S., to remove obsolete language which requires FIRST to develop
human trafficking training for statewide dissemination no later than October 1, 2019. Such training was
developed and is currently available online. Under the bill, FIRST is still required to make such training
available for statewide dissemination.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1: Amends s. 16.618, F.S., relating to direct-support organization.
Section 2: Provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
29
S. 633.216(4), F.S., and Rules 69A-39.003, 69A-39.005, and 69A-39.009, F.A.C.
30
See Orange County Government Fire Rescue Department, Fire Inspector I Fire Inspector Recruit,
https://www.orangecountyfl.net/Portals/0/Library/Employment-Volunteerism/docs/Fire%20Inspector%20I-CERT.pdf (last visited Jan. 18,
2022). The Villages Fire Rescue Department, Currently Recruiting for Fire Inspector,
https://www.myfloridacfo.com/campaigns/firecollege/VillagesInsp.pdf (last visited Jan. 18, 2022). STORAGE NAME: h0615b.GOS PAGE: 6
DATE: 2/1/2022
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
The bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the DSO by requiring it to develop new training
specifically for firesafety inspectors.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable. The bill does not appear to affect county or municipal governments.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
None.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
On January 18, 2022, the Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee adopted an amendment and
reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. The amendment:
Required the DSO, instead of FIRST, to develop human trafficking training for firesafety inspectors;
and
Made a technical change to the bill’s language.
This analysis is drafted to the committee substitute as passed by the Criminal Justice & Public Safety
Subcommittee.